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Rating depth structure for brown bullhead.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
12-acre lake in Lanark County, Ontario. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart comes from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1974, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Nicholson Lake runs 12 acres with 0.6 miles of edge. Nearly circular (index 1.3), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. Call it 0.3 mi long. You'll find it in Lanark County. For a second option, La France Lake lies 2 mi south.
In spring, brown bullhead run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 12 ft before dropping to 6 to 20 ft for winter. Winter brown bullhead concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 14 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Back-bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Back-bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) |
Nicholson Lake carries 4 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 14 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Ontario waters are set by the Ontario fishing regulations (FMZ summary) — and special regulations can apply to Nicholson Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Nicholson Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1974, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target brown bullhead on Nicholson Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For brown bullhead, the summer bite is best in after dark and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Nicholson Lake is regulated by the Ontario fishing regulations (FMZ summary). Check the official Ontario regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
La France Lake 2 mi · Lavant Long Lake 3 mi · Joes Lake 3 mi · Spectacle Lake 3 mi · Perch Lake 3 mi · Little Joes Lake 3 mi · Flower Round Lake 3 mi · Gallagher Lake 4 mi · Green Lake 4 mi · Robertson Lake 5 mi · Mann Lake 5 mi · Govan Lake 5 mi
See how Nicholson Lake stacks up: best brown bullhead lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Lanark County fishing maps (74 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.